In last month’s article I shared four ways to go about planting new seeds in your church’s ministry. The last point of partnering, “partnering with other churches”, is generating good feedback in Barnabas Partnership discussions with ministers.
There are at least three benefits to taking this approach. The first win is that you get to share ideas with other ministers who may be going through some of the same challenges that you are facing. Our world is quickly going from top-down to learning across the level plane. Sometimes the best ideas to address your problems don’t always come from a denominational headquarters.
A second plus to this approach is that you might develop a deeper fellowship with other ministers and laity in your area. For instance, a group of ministers in Southside Virginia is considering coming together after a planned training event to start a peer learning group. When we become less isolated in ministry, we become stronger together.
Another benefit we have seen is that when churches come together and work toward a shared need, there is a better chance that they can receive assistance from organizations that support non-profit groups. An example is that today’s financial grants are more apt to be given to a group of churches meeting a need in the community than to an individual church doing the same ministry.
Of course, there are other benefits to this approach. But don’t let the simple motto of “going it alone” be your modus operandi. Plant some seeds of cooperation in your community and watch the fruits of your labor multiply!